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1 I 20. Pald my 17,1921.

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N. D. LEVIN.

MINING APPARATUS.

, APPLICATION FILED JUNE l1, 1911. RzNEwED SEPT. 11 1,378,862.

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MINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mso :un: n, 1911. ninswsu sin. n. i920.

Patented UNITED sTATEs NILS D. LEVIN, F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURJNG COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION Ol? OHIO.

lVIINING APPARATUS.

Application led .Tune 11, 1917, Serial No. 174,088.

To all whom t may cm1/cern:

Be it knownthat I, NILs D. Laviana citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

rlhe present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mining apparatus of the class in which each comprises a cutting mechanism adapted to lateral bodily movement relative to the coal face while cutting, and a wheeled truck adapted to carry the said cutting mechanism from place to place and to guide and control its cutting movement relative to the coal while remaining upon the track.

l am aware that machines have been proposed wherein the weight of the entire apparatus, including the cutting mechanism, is carried by the truck not only during transportation but also during the cutting operation. With its weight carried by the truck it is impossible to permit the cutting mechanism to project beyond the outlines of the base through more than a certain relatively small distance, and consequently the width of the room or entry which can be cut by such a machine is quite limited.

lin my co-pending application, Serial No. 9972, tiled February 23, 1915, is disclosed an apparatus in which the cutting mechanism can be carried upon the truck during transportation and in which it is removable horizontally therefrom without breaking its connection therewith to rest entirely upon the floor and be moved horizontally under the guidance and control of the truck to cut a horizontal kerf from one side to the other. of a relatively wide room.

ln coal mines break throughs, or connecting passages, are formed at regular intervals in the walls between adjacent rooms and between parallel adjacent entries, through which is maintained the circulation of air necessary to the ventilation of the mine. The formation of these break throughs necessitates the occasional operation of the cutting mechanism along the side walls of the rooms and entries in lines parallel to their length. By the earlier machines falling within the above definition the cutting of such break throughs could Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May i7, 192i..

Renewed September ll, 1920. Serial No. 409,700.

only be accomplished by entirely'disconnecting the cutting mechanism from the truck and laboriously moving it byl means of bars,

cables, etc., into the desired cutting position,

and after the completion of the cutting operation, moving it back in like manner to a position from which it might be reloaded upon the truck. y

lt is the especial object of this invention to provide an apparatus in which'the cutting mechanism can be carried by the truck during transportation and in which it is movable horizontally therefrom without breaking its connection therewith to rest entirely upon the floor and to be moved horizontally under the guidance and control of the truck to cut a horizontal kerf from one side to the other of a relatively wide room or to cut a horizontal kerf longitudinally of the side wall of a relativelynarrcw room.

The devices by which l attain this object are fully set forth in the following specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings of which Figure l side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention showing` the cutting mechanism loaded upon the truck tor movement from one place to another.

2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the devices shown in Fig. l showing the cutting mechanism in position for cutting across vthe face of mine room.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the devices shown in llig. 2.

llig. 4t is a side elevation ofthe cutting mechanism in position to begin its sumping, or entering, cut.

F 5 is a plan view of the main base part of the truck with some of the mechanism carried directly thereby, the swinging, supporting`- and guiding devices for the cutting` mechanism being removed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the 'turn table and "tilting frame of the truck.

l is a plan view of the swinging, supporting and guiding devices for the cutting mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a detail of the supporting and guiding devices for the cutting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a cross section along the line 9 9 of `Fig. 3.

Fig. l0 is fragmentary elevation showing the connections between the mining machine and the truck propelling mechanism.

Figs. 11 to 21 inclusive are diagrams illustrating the method of operating the apparatus.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several ligures.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates, as an entirety, a mining machine adapted to form a horizontal kerf across the coal face7 the numeral 2 indicates a truck adapted to travel along the rails 3 of the mine track to support said mining machine for transportation and7 While still supported upon the said track rails7 to serve as an abutment for the guiding and controlling devices indicated by the numerals 4, 5 and 6. The mining machine 1 comprises a main frame T from which projects the cutting mechanism 8 adapted to be thrust longitudinally into the coal body and to be then moved laterally to form a kerf therein. Upon the main frame 7 is mounted a suitable motor 9 which may be of any preferred type for the actuation of the machine. The main frame 7 of the mining machine rests upon and is slidable longitudinallyv of the bottom pan 6 which is provided with upstanding flanges 10 to engage the sides of the mining machine frame and prevent its lateral movement relative to the said bottom pan. Longitudinal skid bars 11 are attached to the bottom pan to afford a sliding support along which the mining machine ma;7 be easily moved. A latch bolt 12 hinged to the main frame 7 of the mining machine is adapted to engage with the notches 13 in the flange 10 when the mining machine is in its extreme position at either end of the bottom pan 6. By the engagement of this latch bolt 12 the machine is held against longitudinal movement in the pan during the lateral cutting operation and during transportation. The bottom pan G is pivotally mounted upon the sliding frame 5 which is adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine during the cutting operations of the machine, and to slide along the tilting frame l when the machine is being loaded upon the truck. The sliding frame 5 consists of a heavy steel plate the edges of which are turned upward to form flanges 14 which both stiifen the plate and facilitate its sliding` upon the floor of the mine. A pivot casting 15 riveted to the plate 5 engages an aperture of the bottom pan to form its pivotal attachment, and a cap piece 16 attached to the pivot casting 15 engages the upper surface of the bottom pan to prevent its accidental displacement. Attached to the rearward edge of the sliding frame 5 are steel castings 17 upon which are formed hooks 18 adapted to engage the upstanding` flanges 19 of the longitudinal angle bars 2O of the tilting frame t. At the forward end of the longitudinal angle bars 20 are shoe castings Y21 adapted to engage and slide upon the'lloor of the mine when the tilting frame l is in its tilted position. Formed on the, shoe castings 21 are wings 22 adapted to engage the hooks 1S of the sliding frame to limit their forward movement along the angle bars 20. Removable pins 223. placed in suitable apertures of the wings QQ. lock the hooks 1S against rearward movement during the cutting operations of the machine. Vlhe, longitudinal angle bars 20 are joined together near their ends by cross members 2l and 9.5 to form a rigid rectangular frame, and to the side ianges 19 are attached truunions 26 by which said frame is supported in the hinge castings 27 fixed to the ilorvmrd end of a heavy steel plato of the truck 2. The truck 2 consists o'i'f a rectangular' frame formed of the side sills QS) and crossy members 30, all and 32. To the side sills are secured the journal bearings lil in which are journaled the supporting axles To the a-Xles 34 are fixed traction wheels 235 which support the truck upon the rails.; :l of the mine track. Carried by the cross members 30 and 31 is a pivot post Sie which extends though a suitable aperture in the plate to pivotallyY attach it to the truck. ihereb;v forming a turn table upon which the mining machine and guiding mechanism ma)Y be ro tatablyY supported. The pivot post SEG is provided with a head 3G which engages (he upper surface of the turn table plate 2S to prevent its accidental displacement and also provides a non-rotative step bearing for the lower end of a suitable anchor jack ilo" b): which the truck ma;v he secured in an)v preferred position.

Supported upon the cross member 5L at the rearward part of the 'truck a gear housing ST within which is mounted a suhable transmission gearing arranged to eonnect the motor of the mining machine with the truck axle 3i to propel the truck :domi` the tracks of the mine. {lournaled in il is gear housing is a longitudinal shaft :ES con nected with the said transniission gearing and having at its forward end a clutch member 39 arranged to connect with a complementaiwr clutch member l() upon the projoeting end of the armature shaft of the motor 9 when the mining machine is in position for transportation upon the truck 2. The clutch member l0 has a conical projection al adapted to engage with a conmlemontar)- recess of the clutch member 23S) to insure the correct alinement of the rotating parts. Upon the clutch members ll and l!) are formed annular flanges l2 and i3 1l ierforaual with a pluralityv et spaced registering apertures through which mayl be thrust theV clul eh pins all to rotatively connect the members ll and l0. The clutch pins al are carried by lill) lei lill) a shifting ring adapted to slide longitudinally upon the hub 46 to facilitate their insertion and withdrawal from the apertures of the flanges 42 and 43. Hinged to the housing casting 37 is a hook 47 adapted to engage a lock member 48 formed upon the motor casing, to prevent longitudinal movement of the motor relative to the gear housing and the consequent disengagement of the clutch members. Upon the hook member 47 is formed a lug 49 adapted, when in locked position, to engage the shifting ring 45 to prevent the accidental withdrawal of the clutch pins 44. Mounted in the gear housing 37, and connected with the aforesaid transmission gearing, is a transverse shaft 50 upon the projecting end of which is fixed a sprocket wheel 51 connected by a suitable endless driving chain 52 with the sprocket wheel 53 upon the axle 34 to propel the truck 2. ldler sprockets 54 and 55, mounted upon the longitudinal member 29 of the truck frame, deflect the driving chain 52 to allow the tilting frame 4 to be freely swung in either direction upon the turn table 28 before tilting.

My invention is not limited to a kerf cutter of any particular type, but there are many advantages incident to the use of a completely separable and independently op erable mining machine which can be con nec-ted to the guiding and controlling devices of the invention or which can be disconnected therefrom and used independently. ln the drawings l have shown a mining machine of well known construction of the short wall type but as the details of its construction form no part in the present invention extended description is not thought to be required at this time, and it will be suiiicient here to refer briefly to the more important parts. 7 is the main frame upon which is suitably mounted an electric motor 9 adapted to receive its actuating current through a flexible conductor cable 56 from any convenient source of electric supply. Electric controlling apparatus 57 is mounted upon the side of the mining machine to control the motor 9 and is provided with an operating handle 58 convenient to the hand of the operator. A. winding drum 59 is mounted upon the inner end of the mining machine frame and is connected through gearing not shown in the drawing with the motor 9. lllindable upon the winding drum 59 is a rope 60 the free end of which is adapted to be connected to any suitable anchor toward which it is desired to move the machine.

Guide sheaves 61, 62 and 63 are provided retarded by frictional elements 66 to resist the movement of the outer end of the mining machine frame when it is opera-ted independently of my improved guiding devices. The cutting mechanism 8 is of the well known chain cutter type having an elongated supporting frame along the edges of which travels an endless chain 67 to which is attached renewable cutting bits 68 by which the coal is cut. rlhe cutter chain 67 passes around a sprocket wheel, not shown in the drawing, which is connected through suitable gearing with the motor 9.

1n Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive 1 have shown the preferred method of operating this apparatus in the relatively wide rooms of a coal mine. rlhe truck with the mining machine loaded upon it, as illustrated in lfig. l of the drawings, on arriving at the working place, is positioned. near the. working face illustrated in Fig. 11. The machine is then rotated upon the turn table 28 to the position illustrated in Fig. 12, so that the cutter arm 8 will extend toward the point at which the cutting is to begin. nlhe feed rope 60 is then drawn out from the winding drum 59 passed around the guide sheaves 61 and 62 and attached to the hooks 69 at the forward end of the shoe casting 21. Upon the actuation of the winding drum the draft upon the rope 60 will cause the sliding frame 5, and with it the bottom pan 6 and the mining machine, to move forward relative to the truck. As these parts move forward and the center of gravity passes the hinge member 27 the tilting frame 4 will tilt to the position illustrated in Fig. 20. 'lhe forward end of the bottom pan will continue to slide forward upon the Hoor of the mine until the parts assume the relation shown in Figs. 4 and 13 of the drawings. rlfhe feed cable 60 is then disconnected from the hook 69, again drawn out from lthe winding drum, and connected to the hook TO at the forward end of the bottom pan as shown in Fig. 4. The pin 23 is then inserted in the aperture of the shoe casting 2l to prevent rearward movementof the sliding frame 5 relative to the tilting frame 4, the latch bolt 12 is lifted out" of engagement with the notch 18 of the flange lO, the cutting mechanism is started and the winding drum again actuated to wind the rope 60 to draw the machine longitudinally forward to form the suinping or entering cut. lifter the sumping cut has been completed andthe latch bolt l2 engaged in `the forward notch 13, the feed rope 60 will be again drawn out from the winding drum 59 and connected to a suitable abutment, such as the jack post Til, at the left hand side of the room, as shown iu Fig. l5. rl`he draft upon the feed rope will then cause the machine to move laterally across the face of the room, rotating about the turn table 28, the truck serving as un abutment to hold the machine in proper relation to its 'ivorl as illustrated in Fig. 16. lt is obvious that jacks similar to the jack 36h may be placed against any preferred part of the truck to hold it in position as is the common practice with mining machines generally, their number and arrangement depending on local conditions and the opinion oi the operator, and it is not thought to be necessary to shoiv such jaclrs in the drawings. When the cut has been completed across the room, the feed cable may be passed around the guide sheaves G1 and 63 and connected to the abutment 72 at the rear end et the tilting trame as is shown in Fig. l? and the machine may be reloaded upon the truck by its own power.

Under some circumstances, as for example when cutting at the end ot an entry, it is desirable that the side Walls shall be maintained in straight lines parallel to the genn eral direction of the entry. ln such a case the machine may be positioned as sho-Wn in Fig. 2l and the sumping cut made in 'the same manner as above described. Alter the sumping cut has been completed the feed rope 60 Will be drawn out from the Winding drum 59 and attached to an anchoracl; 71 suitably7 placed in the direction toward which it is desired to feed the machine. T he retarding` rope 65 is then drawn out from the drum and attached to a suitable anchor jacli TL/l at the rear of the machine. The opera-tion of the machine Will then proceed as in ordinary short Wall work, tension ou the feed rope GO moving the machine laterallyY to cut the coal and tension upon the retarding rope G5 maintaining the angulairelation of the cutter arm 8 with the coal tace. The tilting frame fl Will rota-te about the turn table 28 causimy 'ther minA machine to more in an arcuate path as indicated in Fig. 2l. After the completion o'f the out the mining machine can be reloaded upon thetrucl in the same manner as above described.

ln Fig. 18 l have shoivn a method of operation 'for the purpose oit cutting a break through in the lett hand rib or" an entry. The unloading ot the machine for such an operation is'pertormed in the same r anner as When cuttingin a room, and is shown in Figs. 1l, l2, 13 and la, After the sliding frame and bottom pan G have reached their extreme outward position the bottom pan may be rotated about the pivot center 1G until the cutter arm S points toward the place at which the cutting is to begin. The suniping cut is. then made in the same manner as when cutting in a room. Alter the completion of the sumping out the feed rop-e 60 is dr ivn out. from the Winding drum 59 and attached to a suitabl anchor jack 73 placed adjacent the rib in the direction toward which the cutting is to proceed. The

retarding rope G5 is then drawn out from the drum 6i. and attached to a jack 'TA/:lf suitably placed in the rear of the machine. The cutting operation then proceeds as in ordinary short Wall operation, the strain on the feed rope (il) moving the machine to cut 'the coal and the resistance of the retarding rope G5 maintaining the angular relation olt the cutter arm S to the coal rib.

fitter the coal which was under cut by the operation illustrated in lig. 1S has been re moved a second cut may bc made` iu the manner illustrated in Fig. 119, the tilting iframe in this being swung to the lc'lit iustead of to the right bclorc unloauling the miningmachine.

lt is obvious that this apparatus is capable of manyv other operations but it is thought that the aborc examples su'licientl illustrate the intention here set forth.

lllhat l claim is l. ln a mining apparatus, the combination olf a transporting trucl; adapted to travel over mine tracks, a complete separately operable mining machine haring a` relatively lined horizontallyv projecting kerl cutting mechanism and adapted to rest iu a predetermined position on the truck or to more oli1 the truck and advance bodily rclative to the coal 'tace to cut a kerl therein, intermediate guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pirotally connected to the truck and adapted to guide the mining` machine oli ot and onto the truck and to guide it transversely relative to the truck during its cutting operations, and pivotal devices associated with said gliliding devices to permit movement of the cutting mechanism transversely olf said laterallyv rigid element.

2. ln a mining apparatus, the combina.- tion of 'a trausportingtruck adapted to travel over mine tracks, a complete separately operable mining machine haring a relatively iii-:ed horizontal y projecting kort cutting mechanism and adapted to rest in a, predetermined position on the truck or to move oil1 the truck and advance bodily relative to the coal face to cut a hert therein, intermediate guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pivotally connected to the truck and adapted to guide the mining machine off oi and onto the truck aud to guide it transversely relative to the truck during its cutting operations, pivotal devices associated ivith said guiding devices to permit movement of the cutting mechanism transversely of said laterally rigid elements` and means to maintain the kort cutting mechanism in any desired angular relation with the coal face.

3. In a mining apparatus, the combinan tion of au abutment Jframe adapted to be anchored in fixed position, a complete separately operable miningmachine having its Weight supported independently of the abutment frame and having a relatively fixed horizontally projecting kerf cutting mechanism, guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pivotally connected With the abutment and engaging said mining machine to guide it rotatively about the abutment, and pivotal devices associated With said laterally rigid elements to permit inovement of the lrerf cutting mechanism transversely of the guiding devices.

4. ln a mining apparatus, the combination of an abutment frame adapted to be anchored in a fixed-position, a complete separately operable mining machine having its Weight supported independently of the abutment frame and having a relatively iiXed horizontally projecting kerf cutting mechanism, guiding devices comprising laterally7 rigid elements pivotally connected With the abutment and engaging the mining machine to guide it rotatively about the abutment, pivotal devices associated With said guiding devices to permit movement of the lrerf cutting mechanism transversely oi said laterally rigid elements, and means to maintain the kerf cutting mechanism in any desired angular relation with the coal face.

5. In a mining apparatus, the combination of a transporting truck adapted to travel over a mine track, a complete separately operable mining machine having a relatively fixed horizontally projecting kerf cutting mechanism and adapted to rest in a predetermined position on the truck or to move olli the truck and advance bodily relative to the coal face to cut a lrerf therein, intermediate guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pivotally connected to the truck and adapted to guide the mining machine transversely relative to l(the truclr during its cutting operation, and pivotal devices associated With said guiding devices to permit movement of sai-d cutting mechanism transversely of said laterally rigid elements.

6. In a mining apparatus, the combination of a truck adapted to travel over a mine track, a horizontally projecting korf cutter adapted to have its Weight supported upon the truck or independently thereof, intermediate guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pivotally connected to the truck and adapted to guide the hert cutter transversely oi the coal face during its cutting operation While supported upon the truck or independently thereof, and pivotal devices associated With said guiding devices to permit movement of the kerf cutter transversely ot said laterally rigid element.

7. In a mining apparatus, the combination of an abutment adapted to be anchored in xed position, a horizontally projecting kerf cutting mechanism having its Weight supported independently of the abutment, guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pivotally connected with the abutment and engaging the ker-t cutting mechanism to guide it rotatively about the abutment, and pivotal devices associated With said guiding devices to permit movement of the kerf cutting mechanism transversely of said laterally rigid elements.

8. ln a mining apparatus, the combination With an abutment adapted to be anchored in iined position, of a horizontally projecting kerf cutting mechanism, guiding devices comprising laterally rigid elements pivotally connected with the abutment and engaging the lrerf cutting mechanism to guide it rotatively about the abutment, and pivotal devices associated With said guiding devices to permit movement of the kerf cutting mechanism transversely of said laterally rigid elements.

ln testimony whereof, l aiiiX my signature, in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

NlLS D. LEVIN.

Witnesses:

DUDLEY T. FISI-IER, ANNA lFnNLoN. 

